September 27-October 1, 2010 This is our fourth week of writing Weekly Wiki. In Math, we have been learning division. We have done ones through nines so far. We got on our laptops and we went to division sites to learn our division facts. If we know our fact families, we should know our division facts. Next week, we are moving on to place value. So we will need to continue practicing our multiplication and division facts at home. In Social Studies, we learned about the Mississippi River. We have been learning about what groups of people came to the United States. The first group was the Native Americans. The Native Americans came from Asia. They came from Asia while they were hunting wooly mammoths. It was during the Ice Age, and they didn’t know they were crossing the Land Bridge from Asia to North America. The next group that came was the Latinos. They came with Christopher Columbus. He was trying to go from Spain to India. He didn’t know that North America was in the way. He went back and told people and more came over. Then came the Europeans. They came because the King wasn’t being fair. Next week, we will learn about the last two groups. We wonder who they are? In Language Arts this week, we did a Venn Diagram. We are learning to write comparing and contrasting articles. So far, we have only learned how to write the introduction and the comparison paragraphs. We also did a Venn Diagram on Sour Skittles and M&Ms. YUM! In Success Time, we learned about perimeter and area, equivalent fractions, measurement, fractions on a number line, and fractions. This week was the best week so far! September 20, 2010
This week was spectacular!
In social studies, we learned about latitude and longitude. Latitude lines go east and west. Longitude lines go north and south. The main line of latitude is the Equator, and the main line for longitude is the Prime Meridian. On the other side of the world, the Prime Meridian turns into the International Date Line. We can pinpoint our location by using a line of latitude and a line of longitude. We also learned about different kinds of maps. Different kinds of maps include physical maps, language maps, rainfall maps, population maps, and regional maps. We did a Geography Challenge using maps.
In language arts, we did a Nifty Thrifty Fifty sheet to learn more about the prefixes and suffixes we are studying this month. We did another What Looks Right assignment. The next time we do this activity, it will be in a Workstation. We did a writing activity where we had 2 versions of a story and we had to pick the one that sounded better. We had to write down why we liked the version we picked. The next day we read stories written by other fourth graders and we saw how they were scored. Then we scored our own paper and had our seat partner score our paper. After our partner graded it, Mrs. Tomlin graded it.
In math we worked on multiplication. To do that, we have been going on our laptops. We have sites we go to where we practice the 2 numbers we are studying that day. First we go to Quick Flash, then we go to Table Trees, and then we go to the Mountain Climber. After our assignment, we have other sites we can go to. We are still taking our weekly 2 minute timed tests on Friday. We are trying to get 50 problems done in 2 minutes. We are also doing daily timed tests to practice. Almost the entire class gets 50 on those because they only go up to the 5s, but on Monday they will go up to the 7s. And, of course, we do ADD every day.
In Success Time this week, we learned area and perimeter, measuring, estimating adding and subtracting problems, time, and fractions.
We had our first fire drill of the year this week. Most of the people in our class set a good example.
This week was phenomenal!
September 13-17, 2010
This week was type-tastic!
This week we got out our laptops for the first time. We get to go on different sites and play math and word games. We learned to carry our laptops with both hands and to hold the battery in our left hand when we are putting them away so the hole for the battery charger is in the right place. We learned how to add websites to our Favorites. So far, we have only bookmarked Mrs. Tomlin’s website because we will be using it all of the time. After we got our laptops out and turned on for the first time, we got to explore Spelling City. Spelling City is a website where we can play games to learn our spelling words. We practiced our spelling words for September there. Five of our laptops had the CIPA filter come up, but Mrs. Tomlin was able to figure out how to fix that problem. Laptops rock!
This week we also took the NWEA in math and reading. These tests let us know where we are in math and reading so that we can get better at both topics.
In math, we learned how to subtract with borrowing. In borrowing, we learned how to subtract up to 5 digit numbers. We also did our timed tests. We also learned how repeated addition and multiplication are the same thing. Next week, we are going to be reviewing our multiplication facts all week. We need to be studying them at home, so we know them very quickly.
We have been through our first whole week of Success Time. We have gone to every teacher. Mrs. Hill (Lewin) taught us 3 dimensional shapes. Mrs. Wolf taught us how to do parallel and perpendicular lines. Mrs. Tomlin taught us area and perimeter. Mrs. Terakedis taught us lines, line segments and rays. Mrs. Dennis taught us how to make triangles out of different shapes.
In Language Arts, we learned about verbs. We learned about strong verbs. They are verbs that sound better than boring verbs. A boring verb would be run. A strong verb would be speed. We also did What Looks Right? We looked at two ways to spell a word and we decided on which spelling looked right. Then we had to find the proof in the dictionary. We also did Time for Kids. It told us about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
In Social Studies, we learned about maps. We learned how to use the Map Key and the Compass Rose. We learned about cardinal directions and intermediate directions. We learned about symbols and map scale. We also did an artifact activity to review the social scientists that we learned about last week.
This week was the best week yet.
September 7-10, 2010
This week was a blast!
This year we are going to have Success Time every day from 2 to 2:30. Success Time gives us 30 more minutes to practice our math. This week we got to meet all of the teachers. We have met all five 4th grade teachers. All of the teachers were nice. Starting next week, we are going to learn perimeter and area from Mrs. Tomlin. The other teachers will each be teaching all of us a different math topic as well.
In Social Studies, we learned about social scientists. There are 4 social scientists—geographers, political scientists, economists, and historians. Social scientists study the way people live in groups. We learned that economists study the way people spend their money. Historians study the past so they can figure out what happened. Political scientists study who runs what and how they get to run it. Geographers study the earth’s surface and what is where. Social scientists are wicked! We also learned about many different kinds of artifacts.
In Writing we made topic lists to help us think of something to write about if we can’t think of anything to write. We made lists of our fears, what we like to do, what makes us happy or sad, what we are scared about, what we worry about, and what we care about. We also wrote a letter to our teacher, Mrs. Tomlin. In the letter we wrote about our summers, our families, things we like to do, our pets, things we don’t like, and our interests.
In Math, we took timed tests in multiplication and division. Our goal is to get fifty in 2 minutes before the end of the year. We also started doing ADD sheets. We practiced adding with carrying.
We learned the rules this week. We have 5 rules. Our rules are be respectful, be responsible, be here and be ready, keep your hands and feet to yourself, and follow directions. If we do these 5 things every day, we get a High 5 in our agenda. If we get a High 5 every day, on Friday we a sticker to put on our chart. Every time we get 5 stickers, we get to pick out of the treasure chest.
This week we had a great week! We think our teacher is the nicest. She thinks we are pretty great too!
September 27-October 1, 2010
This is our fourth week of writing Weekly Wiki.
In Math, we have been learning division. We have done ones through nines so far. We got on our laptops and we went to division sites to learn our division facts. If we know our fact families, we should know our division facts. Next week, we are moving on to place value. So we will need to continue practicing our multiplication and division facts at home.
In Social Studies, we learned about the Mississippi River. We have been learning about what groups of people came to the United States. The first group was the Native Americans. The Native Americans came from Asia. They came from Asia while they were hunting wooly mammoths. It was during the Ice Age, and they didn’t know they were crossing the Land Bridge from Asia to North America. The next group that came was the Latinos. They came with Christopher Columbus. He was trying to go from Spain to India. He didn’t know that North America was in the way. He went back and told people and more came over. Then came the Europeans. They came because the King wasn’t being fair. Next week, we will learn about the last two groups. We wonder who they are?
In Language Arts this week, we did a Venn Diagram. We are learning to write comparing and contrasting articles. So far, we have only learned how to write the introduction and the comparison paragraphs. We also did a Venn Diagram on Sour Skittles and M&Ms. YUM!
In Success Time, we learned about perimeter and area, equivalent fractions, measurement, fractions on a number line, and fractions.
This week was the best week so far!
September 20, 2010
This week was spectacular!
In social studies, we learned about latitude and longitude. Latitude lines go east and west. Longitude lines go north and south. The main line of latitude is the Equator, and the main line for longitude is the Prime Meridian. On the other side of the world, the Prime Meridian turns into the International Date Line. We can pinpoint our location by using a line of latitude and a line of longitude. We also learned about different kinds of maps. Different kinds of maps include physical maps, language maps, rainfall maps, population maps, and regional maps. We did a Geography Challenge using maps.
In language arts, we did a Nifty Thrifty Fifty sheet to learn more about the prefixes and suffixes we are studying this month. We did another What Looks Right assignment. The next time we do this activity, it will be in a Workstation. We did a writing activity where we had 2 versions of a story and we had to pick the one that sounded better. We had to write down why we liked the version we picked. The next day we read stories written by other fourth graders and we saw how they were scored. Then we scored our own paper and had our seat partner score our paper. After our partner graded it, Mrs. Tomlin graded it.
In math we worked on multiplication. To do that, we have been going on our laptops. We have sites we go to where we practice the 2 numbers we are studying that day. First we go to Quick Flash, then we go to Table Trees, and then we go to the Mountain Climber. After our assignment, we have other sites we can go to. We are still taking our weekly 2 minute timed tests on Friday. We are trying to get 50 problems done in 2 minutes. We are also doing daily timed tests to practice. Almost the entire class gets 50 on those because they only go up to the 5s, but on Monday they will go up to the 7s. And, of course, we do ADD every day.
In Success Time this week, we learned area and perimeter, measuring, estimating adding and subtracting problems, time, and fractions.
We had our first fire drill of the year this week. Most of the people in our class set a good example.
This week was phenomenal!
September 13-17, 2010
This week was type-tastic!
This week we got out our laptops for the first time. We get to go on different sites and play math and word games. We learned to carry our laptops with both hands and to hold the battery in our left hand when we are putting them away so the hole for the battery charger is in the right place. We learned how to add websites to our Favorites. So far, we have only bookmarked Mrs. Tomlin’s website because we will be using it all of the time. After we got our laptops out and turned on for the first time, we got to explore Spelling City. Spelling City is a website where we can play games to learn our spelling words. We practiced our spelling words for September there. Five of our laptops had the CIPA filter come up, but Mrs. Tomlin was able to figure out how to fix that problem. Laptops rock!
This week we also took the NWEA in math and reading. These tests let us know where we are in math and reading so that we can get better at both topics.
In math, we learned how to subtract with borrowing. In borrowing, we learned how to subtract up to 5 digit numbers. We also did our timed tests. We also learned how repeated addition and multiplication are the same thing. Next week, we are going to be reviewing our multiplication facts all week. We need to be studying them at home, so we know them very quickly.
We have been through our first whole week of Success Time. We have gone to every teacher. Mrs. Hill (Lewin) taught us 3 dimensional shapes. Mrs. Wolf taught us how to do parallel and perpendicular lines. Mrs. Tomlin taught us area and perimeter. Mrs. Terakedis taught us lines, line segments and rays. Mrs. Dennis taught us how to make triangles out of different shapes.
In Language Arts, we learned about verbs. We learned about strong verbs. They are verbs that sound better than boring verbs. A boring verb would be run. A strong verb would be speed. We also did What Looks Right? We looked at two ways to spell a word and we decided on which spelling looked right. Then we had to find the proof in the dictionary. We also did Time for Kids. It told us about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
In Social Studies, we learned about maps. We learned how to use the Map Key and the Compass Rose. We learned about cardinal directions and intermediate directions. We learned about symbols and map scale. We also did an artifact activity to review the social scientists that we learned about last week.
This week was the best week yet.
September 7-10, 2010
This week was a blast!
This year we are going to have Success Time every day from 2 to 2:30. Success Time gives us 30 more minutes to practice our math. This week we got to meet all of the teachers. We have met all five 4th grade teachers. All of the teachers were nice. Starting next week, we are going to learn perimeter and area from Mrs. Tomlin. The other teachers will each be teaching all of us a different math topic as well.
In Social Studies, we learned about social scientists. There are 4 social scientists—geographers, political scientists, economists, and historians. Social scientists study the way people live in groups. We learned that economists study the way people spend their money. Historians study the past so they can figure out what happened. Political scientists study who runs what and how they get to run it. Geographers study the earth’s surface and what is where. Social scientists are wicked! We also learned about many different kinds of artifacts.
In Writing we made topic lists to help us think of something to write about if we can’t think of anything to write. We made lists of our fears, what we like to do, what makes us happy or sad, what we are scared about, what we worry about, and what we care about. We also wrote a letter to our teacher, Mrs. Tomlin. In the letter we wrote about our summers, our families, things we like to do, our pets, things we don’t like, and our interests.
In Math, we took timed tests in multiplication and division. Our goal is to get fifty in 2 minutes before the end of the year. We also started doing ADD sheets. We practiced adding with carrying.
We learned the rules this week. We have 5 rules. Our rules are be respectful, be responsible, be here and be ready, keep your hands and feet to yourself, and follow directions. If we do these 5 things every day, we get a High 5 in our agenda. If we get a High 5 every day, on Friday we a sticker to put on our chart. Every time we get 5 stickers, we get to pick out of the treasure chest.
This week we had a great week! We think our teacher is the nicest. She thinks we are pretty great too!